Obama Honors Troops On Memorial Day (VIDEO)

President Obama made remarks on Saturday to honor Memorial Day, thanking U.S. troops past and present for their service to the country.

Watch the video:

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Read the text of the prepared remarks Obama made on Saturday:

This Memorial Day weekend, Americans will gather on lawns and porches, fire up the grill, and enjoy the company of family, friends, and neighbors. But this is not only a time for celebration, it is also a time to reflect on what this holiday is all about; to pay tribute to our fallen heroes; and to remember the servicemen and women who cannot be with us this year because they are standing post far from home - in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world.

On Friday, I traveled to Annapolis, where I spoke at the Commencement of the United States Naval Academy. It was an honor to address some of America's newest sailors and Marines as their Commander-in-Chief. Looking out at all of those young men and women, I was reminded of the extraordinary service that they are rendering to our country. And I was reminded, too, of all of the sacrifices that their parents, siblings, and loved ones make each day on their behalf and on our behalf.

Our fighting men and women - and the military families who love them - embody what is best in America. And we have a responsibility to serve all of them as well as they serve all of us.

And yet, all too often in recent years and decades, we, as a nation, have failed to live up to that responsibility. We have failed to give them the support they need or pay them the respect they deserve. That is a betrayal of the sacred trust that America has with all who wear - and all who have worn - the proud uniform of our country.

And that is a sacred trust I am committed to keeping as President of the United States. That is why I will send our servicemen and women into harm's way only when it is necessary, and ensure that they have the training and equipment they need when they enter the theater of war.

That is why we are building a 21st century Department of Veterans Affairs with the largest single-year funding increase in three decades. It's a commitment that will help us provide our veterans with the support and benefits they have earned, and expand quality health care to a half million more veterans.

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That is why, this week, I signed a bill that will eliminate some of the waste and inefficiency in our defense projects - reform that will better protect our nation, better protect our troops, and save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.

And that is why we are laying a new foundation for our economy so that when our troops return home and take off the uniform, they can find a good job, provide for their families, and earn a college degree on a Post-9/11 GI Bill that will offer them the same opportunity to live out their dreams that was afforded our greatest generation.

These are some of the ways we can, must, and will honor the service of our troops and the sacrifice of their families. But we must also do our part, not only as a nation, but as individuals for those Americans who are bearing the burden of wars being fought on our behalf. That can mean sending a letter or a care package to our troops overseas. It can mean volunteering at a clinic where a wounded warrior is being treated or bringing supplies to a homeless veterans center. Or it can mean something as simple as saying "thank you" to a veteran you pass on the street.

That is what Memorial Day is all about. It is about doing all we can to repay the debt we owe to those men and women who have answered our nation's call by fighting under its flag. It is about recognizing that we, as a people, did not get here by accident or good fortune alone. It's about remembering the hard winter of 1776, when our fragile American experiment seemed doomed to fail; and the early battles of 1861 when a union victory was anything but certain; and the summer of 1944, when the fate of a world rested on a perilous landing unlike any ever attempted.

It's about remembering each and every one of those moments when our survival as a nation came down not simply to the wisdom of our leaders or the resilience of our people, but to the courage and valor of our fighting men and women. For it is only by remembering these moments that we can truly appreciate a simple lesson of American life - that what makes all we are and all we aspire to be possible are the sacrifices of an unbroken line of Americans that stretches back to our nation's founding.

That is the meaning of this holiday. That is a truth at the heart of our history. And that is a lesson I hope all Americans will carry with them this Memorial Day weekend and beyond.

Thank you.

Comments

[Shashi0224]

Thank you to all veterans and all the families across the country who miss and are worried about their loved ones in harms way. I certainly feel better knowing THIS President truly cares and truly supports them in every way. I know this President will not throw them in harms way recklessly, like bush/cheney did.
Thank you to all veterans and thank you to all my fellow Americans who proved they care about their fellow man by voting for such an intelligent, compassionate President. I am so thankful to be led by President Obama.

[TexasLady41]

The speech was great but you have to wonder who wrote them. After all, they were read off a "telepromter". God Bless all of the fallen who gave the rest of their lives so that we can live ours.

[biglover]

Do you have any idea how ignorant your statement is? Those are his words coming from that teleprompter. Do you expect him to remember his words exactly wityout looking at them? At least he can read and writes his own speeches. Bush had to use a teleprompter using others' words.

Everyone in television uses a teleprompter. You are so ridiculous and pathetic.
That's you TexasLady41.

[kanyingi]

i love it when people say that Obama just reads from a teleprompter. How come nobody else can evoke the same passion when they use it. Can you? Give it a shot in front of a few of your friends.

Just words you may say, then how come when he used the same words last year that his buddy, Deval Patrick, used Obama's was so powerful. Its called passion. He inspires people. That inspiration moves people and hence can change the world. That's what we need in this world from parents, from teachers from everybody.

[GOPBossLimbaugh]

Go check your IQ. It is very likely that you are mentally challenged.

Then, again, you might just be one of those gullible people who hear arguments, swallow and then regurgitate them without processing them independently (without thinking critically).

May God help you!

[rblackbird]

To all the men and women now serving, to all who have served in the past, and particularly to those who suffered injury and death in wartime:

We remember you. We will always remember you.

Thank you.

[biglover]

Amen and Thank you.

I live right next to the Los Angeles Memorial Cemetery where 85,525 souls are buried. There were ceremonies all day and the fighter jets flew over. It was beautiful but many sad families were crying near their loved ones graves and it brought you home to the reality of their loss.

Shame on GWB and Cheney for sending those soldiers to their deaths for an illegal and unnecessary war.

[imusintheevening]

With a new administration we have found a new wellspring of patriotism, so our family went to the Presidio in San Fransisco, yes the LIBERAL SAN FRANSISCO, and enjoyed paying tribute to those, and the families of those, who have helped keep our Constitution relevant. Yes, the Constitution that the previous administration ignored.

[AngieMom57]

Nice speech President Obama gave; yet words are cheap, sad to say.

Every time I think of those Wall Street Bankers getting multi-million dollar bonuses and on a street corner there is a homeless or struggling vet and their families, well it gets my dander up for sure.

[biglover]

It was Bush who originally bailed out Wall Street and the banks and left Obama with his mess. Don't you forget that for a minute AngieMOm57.

[madatnewsmedia]

and you're mad at the president, why? If you're going to mad at anyone, maybe you should begin with George Bush! I am so tired of these same old silly arguments that can be used against this president. You need new material!!

[Sportsbabe]

AMon57, How cheap did you think words were during the past 10 years?
Yeah, I thought so.

[kanyingi]

So let me get this straight. Obama increased the budget for vet and that means nothing to you. Yes bankers got bonuses but they were under contract. Yes they would not have gotten any if they were allowed to fail.

But on september 15th 2008 lehman brothers was allowed to fail look at the disaster that followed. Yes mistakes were made but now the economy is stabilizing even though the lagging unemployment indicator is rising

[Lee Andrew]

I am a service -connected disabled veteran from the Desert Storm campaign era _ I am also bisexual.

I doubt anyone in a foxhole cares much about what "positions" their colleagues assume in their bedrooms or with who; what concerns us is if they are capable of manning a huge M60 and maintaining a defensive position under atatck.

I salute all heroes and heroines of the republic past and present. THANK YOU.

[AngieMom57]

Thank you.

[smillis19]

THANK YOU

[biglover]

Here Here to all our heroes and heroines.

[OrleansCatalan]

Nearly 800 specialists with critical skills have been fired from the U.S. military under DADT, including 323 linguists, 55 of whom specialized in Arabic (Government Accountability Office report).

At least 65,000 gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans are already protecting our homeland (Urban Institute report). More than 10,000 have been discharged under DADT since the policy was implemented in 1993.

American taxpayers have paid between $250 million and $1.2 billion to investigate, eliminate and replace qualified, patriotic service members who want to serve their country but can't because expressing their sexual orientation violates DADT (Government Accountability Office report). That money could be better spent on at least a dozen Black Hawk helicopters, armored plates for tanks and Humvees or Kevlar body armor for troops.

U.S. military forces cannot afford to lose any troops who can do their jobs, as evidenced by recent call-ups of the Army Reserve.

[TainoBoy]

I love Obama, but now he's starting to irritate me. I know he has been in office for just awhile; and, I should give him time to make good on his promises. Yet, that is not so comforting to me. Nevertheless, he’s better than a repthug extremist in the white house. Obama please, please, please make us liberals proud.

The repthugs can go to hell for all I care.

[ljc]

Some things frustrate me also. I always have to tell myself that he knows way more than we do about what is really going on. Also that he is President of ALL the people, even the far right extremists. I just wish he would be tougher with Democrats that obstruct. Mainly Nelson and Reid. Those two are the worst. Backrus is also a brick wall. As far as Republicans are concerned, he should smack them down every chance he gets. They are dangerous, especially Cheney. The other idiots like Limbaugh and Hannity should just be ignored.

[smillis19]

you forget the fact that people are not perfect and Obama is no exception. Believe you me Obama is doing things that I may not like, but I do not begrudge him because those were his choices. Sure things need to be done but in do time if not Obama than perhaps maybe when we're old enough to run for office we will make things better.

[RachelMc]

nothing will ever make liberals proud, well not the ones on this site.

[ChiEg]

So true...

[biglover]

Taino!!! He's been in office 150 days!!! Are you kidding me. Give the guy a chance. We are a better place 150 days after George Bush. Things take time and everybody wants their issue taken care of first.

Patience, patience. His heart is in the right place. He will do the right thing even if we aren't 100% satisfied. Let's get realistic here.

How quickly we forget how bad it was with Bush and how much better off we are now.

[Sportsbabe]

TBoy, it's been 4 months and THIS President is "starting" to irritate you?
I'd just appreciate it if you would afford him the curb that the last 43 were given.

[madatnewsmedia]

I think those of you who want to be mad at the president because of DADT, are spinning your wheels. I'm glad that there are plenty of gay and lesbian folks who are part of the military environment, but they all knew that the DADT hasn't been repealed. Why couldn't they give the President a chance to solve these issues? Because he is president, doesn't mean that these people can tell the world that they are gay or a lesbian. They served all of this time knowing the rules, but now that a more empathetic man is president, let's do what we want! It doesn't work like that and for those who came "out of the closet", shame on them. Does the country really need to know that you're gay or lesbian? Your civil rights aren't being denied you; this issue is about a alternative lifestyle, not civil rights (like not being able to vote, because you're black)!!

[mainemomma]

I was at our town's Memorial Day Parade, and ceremony at the town cemetery. Not very many people came out this year, for the parade.. with 2 wars ongoing I was a little suprised. It was a beautiful day, and the folks that were there were honoring our town vets, and those serving around the world.

Support our troops, and make sure we have responsible leaders who don't abuse the trust. I love our President!

[IssuesInFocus]

Right on! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVbWZye5IeQ

[Knowitall]

Refresh my memory. Why was I watching a picture of traffic and people walking up and down the street? More importantly, how does this honor our troops? I'm sure it's something very obvious, but I don't get it.

[OrleansCatalan]

"Our fighting men and women - and the military families who love them - embody what is best in America."

Unless they are gay...right?

[watchful123]

DADT is a law...Congress has to over-turn it.

[OrleansCatalan]

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, gay or straight.